Introduction to React Native and Plaid
In today’s world, mobile applications are a cornerstone of our digital experience, and React Native has become one of the most popular frameworks for building cross-platform apps. By allowing developers to write once and deploy on both iOS and Android, React Native streamlines the mobile development process. One powerful feature you can incorporate into your React Native applications is financial services, particularly through the use of Plaid. This article will guide you through integrating Plaid with a React Native application.
Plaid is a financial services API that makes it easy for applications to connect with users’ bank accounts. With Plaid, you can enable features like verifying bank account information, orchestrating payments, and gathering transaction histories—all essential for applications focused on personal finance, budgeting, or payment processing. In this tutorial, we will explore how to set up a simple React Native application and utilize the Plaid API to manage user financial data.
Setting Up Your React Native Environment
Before diving into the integration, you’ll need to set up your React Native development environment. Begin by ensuring you have Node.js installed on your machine, as it’s essential for React Native development. After confirming Node.js is installed, you can create a new React Native app using either Expo or the React Native CLI.
To create a React Native app with Expo, run the following command in your terminal:
npx create-expo-app my-appFor React Native CLI, use:
npx react-native init MyAppOnce your project structure is ready, navigate into your project directory and initiate your app by using:
cd my-app
npm startExpo provides a faster way to get started, especially for beginners, as it manages many configurations for you. However, for advanced users needing native modules not supported by Expo, the React Native CLI is preferable.
Installing Required Packages
With your React Native environment ready, the next step involves installing the necessary packages for integrating Plaid. The primary package you’ll need is react-native-plaid-link-sdk, which allows you to connect your app with Plaid’s Link interface seamlessly.
Use npm or yarn to install the Plaid SDK by executing:
npm install react-native-plaid-link-sdkor
yarn add react-native-plaid-link-sdkYou should also ensure that your React Native project can handle linking. If you’re using React Native CLI, you might need to run the linking command for iOS and Android as follows:
npx react-native link react-native-plaid-link-sdkWith this configuration, you will be well-prepared to initiate the Plaid Link component in your React Native application.
Configuring Your Plaid Dashboard
To use Plaid’s services, you must create a Plaid account and set up a new application on the Plaid dashboard. Log in or sign up at the Plaid website, and once inside, navigate to the dashboard.
Create a new application and make sure to note your client ID and secret key, as these will be essential when making requests to Plaid’s API. During application setup, you’ll choose the products you’d like to use, such as Auth, Transactions, or Liabilities.
Next, under the API keys section, you can find your development keys. Remember, for production usage, you will want to switch to the appropriate keys. Although we’ll be using the sandbox mode for this tutorial to facilitate testing without real banking data, be mindful of the limitations that sandbox mode entails.
Integrating Plaid Link in Your React Native App
With your Plaid application ready, it’s time to integrate the Plaid Link component into your app. Begin by importing the necessary Plaid Link component at the top of the file where you want to initiate the authentication:
import { usePlaidLink } from 'react-native-plaid-link-sdk';For illustrative purposes, let’s create a button that users can click to launch the Plaid Link flow. Utilize the following structure within your component:
const { open, ready } = usePlaidLink({
token: '', // This token is obtained from your backend
onSuccess: (public_token, metadata) => {
// Send public_token to your server for further processing
console.log(public_token, metadata);
},
onExit: (error, metadata) => {
// Optionally handle exit scenario
console.log(error, metadata);
},
});
In this snippet, replace
Handling API Tokens in Your Backend
Now, let’s discuss how to retrieve and exchange the public token that your app receives after a user has successfully linked their bank account. You will need a backend server to serve as the intermediary between your React Native app and the Plaid API.
You can use Node.js and Express to create a simple server. Start by initializing a new project directory:
mkdir plaid-backend
cd plaid-backend
npm init -y
npm install express axiosAfter setting up your Express server, create an endpoint that will accept the public token and then exchange it for an access token:
const express = require('express');
const axios = require('axios');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.post('/get_access_token', async (req, res) => {
const { public_token } = req.body;
const response = await axios.post('https://sandbox.plaid.com/item/public_token/exchange', {
client_id: '',
secret: '',
public_token,
});
res.json(response.data);
});
app.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});
Make sure to replace
Testing Your Application
With the components in place, it’s time to test your application. Ensure you have your backend running by executing:
node server.jsThen, return to your React Native application and launch it on a simulator or physical device. When the user initiates the Plaid Link flow, they will be presented with the sandboxed bank accounts provided by Plaid (e.g., “Chase” or “Bank of America”). After selecting an account and logging in, the public token will be returned to your app.
To verify that everything works as anticipated, log the results of the public token exchange in your backend. You can use tools like Postman to send requests directly to your backend if you want to debug or manually check the endpoint.
Retrieving User Financial Data
After successfully exchanging the public token for an access token, you are almost ready to pull user financial data. Using the obtained access token, you can make requests to the Plaid API to retrieve transaction histories, account balances, and other relevant information.
Here’s an example of how to fetch user transactions once you have your access token:
const getTransactions = async (access_token) => {
const response = await axios.post('https://sandbox.plaid.com/transactions/get', {
client_id: '',
secret: '',
access_token,
start_date: '2023-01-01',
end_date: '2023-01-31',
});
console.log(response.data);
};
By providing the start and end date, you can customize the period from which you want to retrieve transactions. Play around with the API to explore all the data available to you.
Conclusion
Integrating React Native with Plaid opens up an array of possibilities for developers looking to create finance-related applications. From basic account linking to complex transaction handling, this tutorial has equipped you with the knowledge to start leveraging financial data effectively.
Through the use of the Plaid SDK and a backend server to manage tokens securely, you can build robust applications that offer genuine value to your users. As you progress, consider diving more into the features Plaid has to offer, such as investment account linking or categorizing transactions.
Feel free to attempt different projects that can utilize this integration, from budgeting tools to full-fledged banking apps. The more you practice, the better your understanding will become. Happy coding!